VARSHETS
Varshets (population 7510) is situated at the foot of the forests at the northern slope of Balkan Mountain at 380 meters altitude above sea level, among a small valley along the river Botunya. It is located at 92 kilometers from Sofia and 30 kilometers south from the regional center Montana.
Its geological and geographical location defines it as a climatic resort, which treasures inexhaustible quantity of hot mineral water. It is one of the oldest resorts in Northern Bulgaria. Varshets is popular with its mineral springs, the beautiful scenery, the wide, well-maintained park and the mild mountain climate, creating favorable conditions for conducting effective Climatotherapy and prophylaxis. The average annual temperature is above 10oC. The autumn is warm and long, the summer is cool and the winter is relatively mild winter. The city is the administrative center.
Varshets has excellent tourist facilities. There are 2 balneological public health stations, policlinic with specialized diagnostic and physiotherapeutic rooms, numerous holiday homes, hotels and boarding houses, trails and sports field prophylactic lands, grounds for Climatotherapy and Prevention and others. There are well regulated private rooms.
HISTORY AND SIGHTSEEING
The history of the town of Varshets begins far in the past. Archaeological findings show that the Varshechka valley was dwelling of primitive people, the Thracians, that survived the Roman and Byzantine era, the arrival and lodging of the Slavs, which gives the name of Varshets and the Bulgarian kingdoms time and two centuries-old bondages. The name of the town is mentioned in a Turkish document from 1576. The old settlement was located on Lukanitsa and gradually is descended to the river. Remains of ancient fortresses can be viewed in the neighborhood of Varshets - Zanozhene. In digging the foundations of a Roman bath were found a lead pipe, small hexagonal ceramic tile, Roman coins.
Interest in the town is the temple St. George, The Solar garden and the art gallery.
THE MINERAL WATERS OF VARSHETS TOWN
The founded remains from Roman balneological equipment and objects in the city Varshets are evidence for the use of curative mineral springs since ancient times.
The mineral water gushing from several sources. Their temperature is from 36.4o C to 38oC and total capacity 15 l / sec. The water from all mineral water springs is with low mineralization, alkaline, hydro-carbonate, sulfate-sodium, and low water hardness, clear, colorless and drinking and good taste. Contains elements such as iron, lithium, barium, aluminum, strontium, phosphate, manganese, arsenic and others. Suitable for internally accepting, inhalation, for irrigation.
The water is used to treat on:
- • Functional diseases of the central nervous system
- • cardiovascular diseases
- • Endocrine-exchange conditions
- • Gastrointestinal diseases
- • Liver disease
- • Diseases of the peripheral nervous system
The water is suitable for general prevention, strengthening and hardening the body's physical and mental exhaustion and others.
VICINITIES
In the vicinities of the town of Varshets have interesting sights and places for rest and tourism. The nearest and easily-accessible place is the waterfall – on about 3 kilometers. To the place White water leads 2 ways - for pedestrians and asphalt. The place Green Del over Zanozhene quarter is preferred for a picnic pavilion. There is held annually folklore singing competition. For lovers of mountain tourism interest is the peak Todorini kukli - one of the highest points in the Balkan Mountain. The Klisura monastery is located on 12 kilometers southwest.
On 7 kilometers northwest of the city has Paleontological field of late-Pliocene of fauna and flora. Remains from Roman fortresses have been found near by the villages Cherkazki and Dolno Ozirovo, around Varshets. On around 30 kilometers to the southeast is a natural park Vratchanski Balkan. Again, about 30 kilometers east of Varshets is situated the town of Vratsa in whose environs are Ledenika cave, Zmeyuvi hole reserve, Vrachanski karst and numerous huts. Berkovitsa is located on 16 kilometers north-west from the town.
